For over two decades, Washington County has been the model for stability, opportunity, and prosperity in Southwestern Pennsylvania. That success has been a result of both the public and private sectors recognizing our unique economic assets and working together to realize new opportunities. For our county to continue that growth, we must continue to take proactive steps to ensure abundant job opportunities and sustainable prosperity for all residents. Without the resources that a robust economy creates, it is impossible to address the economic and quality of life needs of our citizens.
The Washington County Chamber of Commerce is the largest chamber in Southwestern Pennsylvania-counting nearly 1,200 businesses from across the region in its membership. Reflecting the varied industries of our members, The Chamber represents a diverse group of businesses throughout Washington County. While the industries vary, The Chamber advances an agenda of county-wide growth and economic impact to drive our county forward into the future. To promote our county’s long-term success and meet the demands of tomorrow, The Chamber has developed the Washington Forward agenda as a road map toward continued prosperity for both our current citizens and future generations. This
policy agenda outlines four distinct areas that have provided Washington County with a competitive advantage among our peer counties over the past two decades and provides direction for continuing to move the county forward.
The Washington Forward: Strategic Policy Roadmap for Economic & Community Development expands on the following four areas that we believe are critical to maintaining growth and prosperity for our community – (1) Maintaining a Diverse
Economy, (2) Sufficient Industrial and Commercial Sites, (3) Growing the Population, and (4) Effective Governance and Collaboration. The Chamber’s policy agenda explores some of the major themes of these four topics and suggests actions to help ensure Washington County continues to lead in these areas. As our county will see new leadership on the Washington County Board of Commissioners, Washington Forward also offers a business focused direction for elected officials or candidates for office that will serve, or hope to serve, Washington County. It is important for our business community to understand their positions on these topics as well and work together to reaffirm that Washington County maintains its leadership among our peer counties in the region and across the Commonwealth.
Washington Forward
Strategic Policy Roadmap
for Economic & Community Development
Maintaining a Diverse Economy: Washington County’s natural gas resources give us a national profile, but this is not our only strong point. Industries such as advanced manufacturing, tourism, healthcare, financial services, and small businesses drive our local economy. With this diverse economy, Washington County is less likely to experience extreme economic trends that may impact other areas of the country and allows for a variety of opportunities for our citizens to prosper. To maintain a diverse economy, we must:
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Continue to support economic diversity, including expanding our traditional areas of strength such as energy, advanced manufacturing, and financial services; grow our healthcare sector and agricultural enterprises; and provide a welcoming home for corporate offices and headquarters.
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Leverage the existing business base to find economic development opportunities and targets among their suppliers and customers. concentrating on connecting small businesses to these opportunities.
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The Marcellus Shale makes Washington County a globally significant location and we must continue to leverage these existing resources while looking toward future uses of natural gas for emerging technologies like hydrogen and carbon capture as well as the expansion of our energy infrastructure.
ACTIONS: Keep property taxes low and support pro-growth initiatives to provide a welcoming and stable business environment for both existing and prospective businesses across all industries. Support permit reform, business-focused tax policies, and other initiatives designed to encourage development, business growth, and job creation. Advocate for the continued use of natural gas resources in the creation of the hydrogen economy.
Maintaining a Diverse Economy
Sufficient Industrial & Commercial Sites
Sufficient Industrial and Commercial Sites: To capture investment and secure jobs for Washington County in the short term, we need a place for growing businesses to locate. Available ready-to-build sites used to be one of our great advantages, but now our inventory of pad-ready and modern Class A industrial properties is low. To grow, we must:
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Support immediate investment opportunities to create pad-ready sites for industrial and commercial growth.
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Remediate existing brownfield sites to accommodate modern facilities.
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Reimagine and modernize our downtown business districts.
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Join with state and regional partners to assemble and prepare mega-sites that will allow the region to compete for major factories, such as the Intel chip plant being built in Columbus, OH.
ACTIONS: Support and invest in brownfield redevelopment and infrastructure
development projects to incentivize the development of underutilized and/or obsolete industrial properties and expand opportunities to new areas. Support and invest in the redevelopment and revitalization of the historic downtown business districts across the county, utilizing existing local resources such as the Local Share program, American Reinvestment Act funding, or other state and federal funding opportunities.
Growing the Population: Over the past decades, Washington County has been one of the only counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania to record population growth. However, most of this growth was due to the emigration of people from other counties in our region. In addition, we have more job openings than people to fill them. In the short run, we have jobs but lack the training and qualified candidates. In the long run, our population is aging, and this will cause the county’s economy and population to contract if we do not attract new residents and/or grow population internally. To grow our population, we must:
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Accommodate new residents attracted by growing industries (natural gas related businesses, manufacturing, or food processing, for example.)
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Educate students in middle school and high school on the county’s opportunities in advanced, but non-college careers such as manufacturing, building trades, and other industries, providing them with opportunities to stay in the county to build a career, raise a family and make it less enticing for them to relocate to find jobs.
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Join with regional partners to actively attract new residents from around the U.S. and internationally.
ACTIONS: Support local workforce development initiatives aimed at promoting existing job opportunities thus retaining local students and young families and to attract new residents and immigrants (both national and international) to help bolster our workforce and grow local communities.
Growing the Population
Effective Governance & Collaboration
Effective Governance and Collaboration: Washington County should preserve the tools that are essential for building our success. Low taxes and a stable, business-friendly government that prioritizes growth and public/private collaboration have been strategic advantages in the county for decades. Washington County’s recent growth came as civic leaders made it easier to do business in the county. County economic development groups merged to be more effective, streamline delivery, and eliminate duplication of services. The system in place makes it easier for business prospects to invest in Washington County, allowing for more efficient deployment of resources and promoting public private partnerships.
ACTIONS: Support and build upon existing public/private initiatives such as the successful 25-year partnership between with the Washington County Chamber of Commerce and County of Washington; serve as an ambassador for the county, and as an advocate for the continued public/private collaboration which has been a staple of our success and made the county a leader among our peers in the region.